I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

Like Jehoshaphat, but Blessed--Sept. 19, 2019




Everything about Jehoshaphat
was written in a book,
but the book is lost;
all is forgotten.

The day will come
when everything about me,
all that is written down,
whatever I have done,
will be forgotten.

Poor in spirit, still of the flesh,
behaving according to
human inclinations;
yet you call me
blessed.

And I believe I am,
because even though
my father has forsaken me,
and my mother, too, is gone,
you, O Lord, will take me up.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 36; 147:12-20; 80; 27
1 Kings 22:29-45
1 Cor. 2:14-3:15
Matt. 5:1-10

Selected Verses
Ps. 27:14
Wait for the LORD;
          be strong, and let your heart take courage;
          wait for the LORD!

1 Kings 22:45
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his power that he showed, and how he waged war, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?

1 Cor. 3:3
…for you are still of the flesh.  For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?

Matt. 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  …”  [Jesus, sitting on the mountain, to the crowd and his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

2 comments:

  1. Mea SententiaSeptember 19, 2019 at 7:00 PM

    Lovely. My prayer is the Lord will take me up too, with those I love.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elmer E. EwingSeptember 20, 2019 at 8:13 PM

      I am sure the Lord will, Chris. Thank you for the comment.

      Delete

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